JERUSALEM ARRIVES IN L.A.
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 17 May 2023
Filipino WBO minimumweight world champion Melvin 'Gringo' Jerusalem landed at the Tom Bradley International Airport in Los Angeles via Philippine Airlines Tuesday night (Wednesday in Manila) ahead of his first world title defense against Puerto Rican challenger Oscar Collazo on May 27 at the Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California.
Jerusalem was accompanied by his trainer Michael Domingo and Sanman/Zip stablemate Kevin Jake Cataraja. He was met at LAX by boxing supporters Christopher Arias, Albert Casas and Philboxing photographer Jhay Otamias.
Jerusalem (20-2-0, 12KOs) will be fighting for the first time in the US and will have experience advantage over Collazo (6-0-0, 4KOs) who turned pro only in 2020. Collazo however has a stellar amateur experience and won the gold medal in the 2019 Pan American Games.
Collazo has been pushed aggressively by his promoters Miguel Cotto Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions believing that the pint-sized Puerto Rican will be a future star. Former Filipino world champion Vic Salurdar was one of his victims in his young pro career. He defeated Mexican contender Yudel Reyes, then 15-1, in his last fight to get a shot at Jerusalem.
Jerusalem won the WBO belt by knocking out Masataka Taniguchi in the second round on Jan. 6, 2023 in Osaka, Japan. He previously challenged then WBC champion Wanheng Meenayothin of Thailand in 2017 and lost by a very close decision.
L-R: Kevin Jake Cataraja, Jerusalem, Christopher Arias, Albert Casas and Michael Domingo at LAX on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 upon Team Jerusalem's arrival from Manila. Photo by Jhay Otamias.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Jayson Mama Set to Challenge for IBO World Super Flyweight Title in Johannesburg
Sat, 17 May 2025Fisher vs Allen 2: Can Johnny Make Necessary Improvements?
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 17 May 2025Weights from Panamá City
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sat, 17 May 2025CRUZ LANDS IBF ELIMINATOR AGAINST MISHIRO IN NEW YORK
Sat, 17 May 2025Fisher and Allen Hit the Scales Ahead of Highly Anticipated Heavyweight Rematch
Sat, 17 May 2025Boxing: Sport Entertainment or Entertainment Sport (Part Two)
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 16 May 2025NYC PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES: BERLANGA VS. SHEERAZ / SHAKUR STEVENSON VS. WILLIAM ZEPEDA
Fri, 16 May 2025HALL OF FAME TRAINER FREDDIE ROACH TO BE HONORED BY THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES IN PUBLIC CEREMONY AT FREDDIE'S GYM!
Fri, 16 May 2025HALL OF FAME BROADCASTER JIM LAMPLEY TO PARTICIPATE IN 2025 HALL OF FAME WEEKEND FESTIVITIES
Fri, 16 May 2025Minnesota, Indiana Back Again in the Eastern and Western Conference Finals
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Thu, 15 May 2025In Jonathan’s memory
By Joaquin Henson, Thu, 15 May 2025WATCH: HITCHINS AND KAMBOSOS JR IN INTENSE FACE-OFF WITH ONE MONTH UNTIL NYC SHOWDOWN
Thu, 15 May 2025Toledo-Xignex Trojans finally win the PCAP online team chess tournament
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 15 May 2025Former WBA Super Bantamweight Champion Nazarena Romero to Exercise Immediate Rematch Clause Against Mayelli Flores Rosquero
Thu, 15 May 2025Pacquiao's Controversial WBC Ranking Explained: "Legend" Status Cited Amid July Return
By Dong Secuya, Thu, 15 May 2025